Steam cleaner

ABSTRACT

A portable steam cleaner comprising a wheeled carriage, an enclosure on the forward part of the carriage defining a swirl chamber having a horizontally tangential air input and a vertically axial outlet, a heating coil having spaced convolutions disposed over the chamber such that air passes upwardly therethrough from the chamber, and an oil burner for heating the air which is driven through the swirl chamber and the heating coil by means of a blower. A float valve controlled water supply is disposed toward the upper rear of the carriage along with a soap supply. A hand-held steam gun is disclosed.

United States Patent Bowers 1 Oct. 31, 1972 [54] STEAM CLEANER FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] Invent r: Resis Bnwers, Detroit, Mich-121,819 8/1946 Australia ..122/250 R 73 Assi nee: Chausse ManufacturinCo. Inc. 1 g River Rouge, Mich g Primary Examiner-Charles J. Myhre [22]F! d F b 16 1971 Attorney-McGlynn, Reising, Milton & Ethington 1 e e 21Appl. No.: 115,551 [571 ABSTRACT 1 A portable steam cleaner comprising awheeled car- [521 US. Cl. ..120/271.2 R, 122/250 R riage: f F Triage 511m. (:1 ..F22b 21/26 l a swrl chamber mm a mien 58] Field of Search..126/271.2 R- 122/250 R a axial 8 having spaced convolutions disposedover the chamber such that air passes upwardly therethrough [56]References cued from the chamber, and an oil burner for heating theUNITED STATES ATENT l2.;ir which isl (given throti gh 3'16 swirl chamberand the eating coi y means 0 a ower. A float valve controlled watersupply is disposed toward the upper rear 3,039 454 6/1962 Gilbenson e1;;i----l--26/271 2 R of the can-121%; aiongdwith a soap supply. Ahand-held 3,533,380 10/1970 Finger ..126/27l.2 R x 5 Cam gums 3,612,00410/1971 Cancilla et al. 122/250 R 18 Claims, 3 Drawing FiguresPNEN'TEflncIauen 3.701.343

snmzurz INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS STEAM CLEANER This application relates to cleaning apparatusand particularly to such apparatus as is used to generate a stream ofheated fluid, such as steam, for cleaning purposes. I

It is now well known to apply a stream of heated fluid for the removalof dirt, scale, grease, grime and other foreign material from variousobjects, such as automobile engines, machine parts, whitewall tires andso forth. The generation of such heated fluid is accomplished by passingthe fluid, usually water with and without a detergent additive, througha heating coil which is connected to a portable spray gun by means of ahose. A heated air stream is passed over or through the heating coil bymeans of a blower and a burner arrangement.

Such steam cleaners as are now known in the art are often inefficient,cumbersome and, in general, poorly designed machines.

The present invention provides a relatively small,

' push-cart type steam cleaner which is highly compact,

efficient in operation as well as safe and convenient to use andmaintain. In general, this is accomplished in a steam cleaner having awheeled push-type carriage having a floor member, a raised platform overpart of the floor member, a vertical-axis heating coil on the platform,and means including a blower and a burner for producing a flow of heatedair through the space between the floor member and the platform, andthence upwardly through the coil. Storage and regulating means aredisposed over another part of the floor member to provide a supply offluid, such as water, which is directed through the coil and thenthrough a portable gun device.

In accordance with a preferred form of the invention, hereinafter setforth in detail, the coil is disposed on the platform with the axisthereof substantially vertical and aligned with the central exitaperture of a swirl chamber between the floor and platform through whichair is urged by means of a blower. This chamber has a horizontal,tangential input conveniently adjacent the portion of the carriage floorunder the water storage and regulating means. The various convolutionsof the coil are spaced apart and maintained in such spaced relationshipby means of rigid spacers which are permanently disposed in place bywelding or the like. The coil is provided with an easily removedcombustion chamber cover which permits cleaning of carbon from the coilby the machine itself.

The various features and advantages of the subject invention will bebest understood by reference to the following specification which setsforth in detail an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

This specification is to be taken with the accompanying drawings ofwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the apparatus ofFIG. 1 illustrating a floonpanel and swirl chamber; and,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view with parts broken away of the apparatus ofFIG. 1 with the housing removed to expose internal details.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, the invention is shown embodied in apush-type mobile steam cleaner 10 comprising a carriage 12 havingprimary wheels 14 and a swivel wheel 15. The carriage 12 includes afloor member 68 of rigid material such as steel, the forward portion ofwhich is covered by a platform 72 to provide an enclosed swirl chamberfor air as will be hereinafter described. The rear portion of floormember 68 provides a support surface for an electric motor 26 whichdrives a blower 28 mounted adjacent thereto, as well as a fuel pump 30and a water pump 40. The drive shaft for pump 30 is coupled to motor 26through the rotor of blower 28. A set of upright members 74 support afluid supply and regulatory assembly 75 in spaced relation with the rearportion of floor member 68.

Disposed on the platform is a heating coil 16 having carefully spacedconvolutions disposed about a common vertical axis. Coil 16 has an inletend at the bottom convolution coupled to the outlet of water pump 40,and an outlet end 20 which is taken from the top of the coil 16 andwhich is normally connected through a flexible hose to a manual steamgun 82. The gun 82 has hand grips 84 and a venturi type nozzle 86. Noshut-off valve is normally provided in gun 82, a continuous flowoperation being contemplated.

Describing now the air flow apparatus, air is taken in throughperforated panels 66 in opposite sides of the rear cover 50 which isfastened to carriage 12 during normal operation. Air is propelled byblower 28 through a short duct 88 which leads into a tangential inputduct 80 to the swirl chamber 22. The chamber 22 is formed by an outer,substantially circular wall member 86 and a straight extension member 83which lie between and perpendicular to the planes of the floor 68 andthe platform 72. Thus, air enters chamber 22 tangentially andhorizontally. The platform 72 is provided with a central opening intowhich is fit a cylindrical member 94 having internal vanes 96 to funnelthe exiting air vertically upward in a helical path through the coil 16.Member 94 is commonly called a turbulator. A disc of asbestos 98 isplaced on platform 72 to provide heat insulation around the member 94.The chamber 22 is completed by an outer peripheral wall 70 having across piece 78 to define the opening to duct 80. The scams or junctionsbetween floor 68, walls 70 and 78 are preferably air tight.

The air which exits the member 94 flows upwardly through and around thecoil 16, being contained within a cylindrical enclosure by thecombustion chamber can 42. This element fits over the coil 16 and restson platform 72. The can 42 is provided with a cover 44 having handles 46and a central opening 48 which exhausts the air after flowing throughand around the coil 16. A front cabinet cover 56 having a screenedopening 58 encloses the forward part of carriage l2 and permits the exitof air therethrough.

Describing now the burner; fuel, such as oil, from a tank 32 in assembly75 flows through a line 90 to the pump 30 and thence through a line 92running beneath the floor 68 to a nozzle 93 pointed upwardly within theswirl chamber 22 as is shown in FIG. 2. An electrode set 95 is disposedalong side the nozzle to ignite the fuel. A transformer 98 on a bracket100 supplies a potential to the electrodes 96 continuously after theplug on cable 62 is placed in an electrical outlet and a switch 102 onenclosure 50 is thrown. The schematic circuit for this simple circuit isnot illustrated but will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Fuelpressure is monitored by a gage 64 and may be regulated by a fuel pumpadjustment not shown.

The ignition of the oil pumped through nozzle 93 by pump 30 creates aplume of flame which is confined to the internal volume of the can 42and which, thus, bathes the coil 16 in highly heated air.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the fluid system of cleaner will be describedin detail. The assembly 75 comprises three separate storage compartmentsor tanks. Tank 32 is for fuel oil and is connected to pump 30 via line90. A fill pipe 34 having a cover 60 is provided. An open tank 36 isprovided for water and is interconnected with pump 40 via line 104. Athird tank 38 is provided for soap or detergent and is preferablyinterconnected with line 104 via a selectively operable valve so thatthe unit can be operated with steam alone or with steam and soap.

The input to tanks 36 and 38 begins at a threaded pipe end 37 whichextends laterallythrough the side wall of enclosure 50, and whichfacilitates connection to a conventional hose coupling. Pipe 37 extendslaterally beneath assembly 75 to a vertical section 106 which runsupwardly inside tank 38, a suitable seal being provided at the entranceto tank 38. Vertical section 106 ends at a T-coupling 108 having outletbranch 110 to service tank 38 and outlet branch 112 to service tank 36.Branch 110 is further provided with a manual valve or cock 1 14 toregulate the filling on tank 38 with as much water as desired. Branch112 is provided with a float-controlled valve 1 16 so that the level ofwater in the tank is maintained at a depth controlled by the float 118.The arm of float 118 carries a mercury switch 120 which operates to shutoff the fuel to burner nozzle 94 should the water level in tank 36become less than the level determined to be proper. As previouslydescribed, the tanks 36 and 38 feed by gravity into pump 40 through line104, and thence through coil 16 to the gun 82. Steam pressure at theoutlet of coil 16 is monitored by a gage 65 which is conveniently placednear the front of cleaner 10 where it can be easily observed by theoperator.

Referring again to FIG. 3, an important part of the fluid system incleaner 10 is the coil 16 which is of unique design and which appears tocontribute significantly to the overall efficiency and convenience ofoperation of cleaner 10. Coil 16 comprises a plurality of spacedconvolutions defining a lower substantially cylindrical portion and anupper substantially conical portion, the upper conical portionterminating at an opening 24 after which the coil 16 is extended downalong the outside of itself to the outlet point which is adjacent theplatform 72. Accordingly, the coil 16 is substantially bottle shapedwith the inlet at the bottom and the outlet at the top. The spacingbetween the convolutions of coil 16 is on the order of 0.06 inches andis maintained relatively carefully by welded in shims 17, three or fourrows of which occur about the coil 16 as shown. This coil spacingappears for reasons which are not completely understood to make asubstantial contribution to the efficiency of operation.

Describing now some of the final details of the cleaner 10 the view ofFIG. 1 shows a master power switch 122 which controls the flow ofelectricity to the drive motor 26 once the plug end of cable 62 issuitably inserted into a volt 60 cycle AC electrical outlet. Switch 122is conveniently located alongside the burner igniter control switch 102.As also shown in the view of FIG. 1 a push type handle 54 is mounted onthe rear enclosure 50 by means of laterally spaced brackets 52 so thatthe cleaner 10 can be easily wheeled about in the manner of a push-cart.In the view of FIG. 2 the floor panel 68 is shown to be provided withmounting brackets 87 and 90 for the fuel pump 30 and motor 26,respectively. In addition, the platform 72 is provided with brackets 76which facilitate the fastening of the forward enclosure 56 in an obviousmanner. The fill pipe 34 on the fuel tank 32 is provided with a suitablecap 60 so that once the tank 32 is filled with conventional fuel oil itcan be sealed against the evaporation of fuel and the inadvertantintroduction of foreign matter. As a final detail the steam gun 82 ispreferably fabricated from a inch diameter pipe having perforated metalhand grips 84 and a venturi type nozzle 86 having a )4; inch diameterconstriction and a inch diameter final outlet.

Describing now a typical operation of the steam cleaner 10, thepreparation phases are accomplished by coupling the plug end of cable 62to a suitable outlet for electrical power and coupling the pipe end 37to a water supply. Soap or detergent, if any, is introduced into thetank 36 and the valve 114 is turned on to dilute the soap or detergentwith as much water as desired. Valve 14 is then turned off. Float 118opens the valve 116 to permit water to flow through the branch 112 intothe water tank 36 until a predetermined water level in the tank 36 isreached.

Once the water level in tank 36 is proper, switch 122 is thrown to startthe motor 26. Motor 26 is commonly coupled to the blower 28, the waterpump 40 and the fuel pump 30 so that all of these units begin operationat the same time. Blower 28 draws air through the perforated sections orvents 66 and directs it through the duct 88, the duct 80, the swirlchamber 22 and then upwardly through the coil 16 exhausting through theopenings 24, 48 and 58. Fuel pump 30 does not, however, actually producea flow of fuel through the line 92 until switch 102 is thrown to operatea conventional solenoid controlled fuel valve, now shown. This valve ispreferably placed in the line 92 between the pump 30 and the nozzle 93.At this point the switch 102 is thrown to permit the flow of fuel to thenozzle 93 and also to energize the igniter electrodes 96. This ignitesthe fuel and produces a plume of flame up through the turbulator 94 andinto the combustion chamber defined by coil 16 and cylindrical cover 42.The operation of water pump 40 during this time causes a flow of waterfrom the tank 38 through the coil 16 and through the steam gun 82. Thewater either with or without a soap or detergent additive issubstantially vaporized and emerges at a high speed, high pressure andhigh temperature from the nonle 86 of the gun 82.

Should the level of water in the tank 36 drop below a predeterminedlevel so as to cause the float 118 to lower inordinately within the tank36, the mercury switch 120 breaks the circuit normally controlled byswitch 102 thus to close the solenoid controlled fuel valve andinterrupt the flow of electrical power to the transformer 98.

After the cleaner has been operated for a period of time it has beenfound that coil 16 tends to acquire a sooty carbon layer. This layer canbe easily removed by taking off the forward enclosure 56 and lifting upthe coil cover 42 by the handles 46 to expose the coil 16. The unit canbe conveniently cleaned simply by turning the gun 82 on the coil 16 andeffectively using the cleaner 10 to clean itself.

It is to be understood that various modifications to the cleaningapparatus 10 shown and described herein can be made and that theforegoing description is illustrative in nature and is not to be takenin a limiting sense.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

, 1. Apparatus for generating a stream of heated fluid comprising apush-type carriage having a floor, a platform vertically spaced from andoverlying the floor, duct means between the floor and platform defininga swirl chamber for air, said swirl chamber having ahorizontally-extending tangential input path extending between saidfloor and platform and a vertically-extending central exit formed insaid platform, burner means disposed centrally in said swirl chamber forproducing a flame extending vertically upwardly through said exit, asubstantially cylindrical heater coil through which water is caused topass to generate steam disposed on and supported by said platform, saidcoil having a plurality of spaced convolutions and a vertical axis ofsymmetry which is aligned with said exit so that said flame passesupwardly therethrough, a cylindrical cover having a central flue openingin the top thereof and being disposed about but spaced radially fromsaid coil to contain said flame, said cover being supported by saidplatform so as to be vertically removable to expose the convolutions ofsaid coil, blower means on said floor to create a forced air draft intoand through said swirl chamber and upwardly through said coil, a storageunit carried by said carriage in vertically spaced relation to saidfloor, said storage unit comprising fuel and water storage compartments,and gun means externally of said carriage and connected to said coil toreceive steam therefrom.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said platform is disposedover only a portion of the floor.

3. Apparatus, as defined in claim 2 wherein the carriage includes wheelsrotatably disposed thereon for wheeling the apparatus about.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the coil comprises aplurality of axially distributed and spaced convolutions, and means formaintaining the spacings between said convolutions.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the spacing between theconvolutions of the coil are uniform and on the order of 0.06 inches.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the coil is arranged with acylindrical lower portion wherein the convolutions are the same diameterand a conical upper portion wherein the convolutions decrease uniformlyin diameter, the fluid flow in the coil being from bottom to top.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the chamber comprises saidfloor, a peripheral exterior wall member havin a not 0 enin therein ninterior wall member of gen era ly cir ular onfigurati on, a ductinterconnecting the duct opening and the interior wall member, saidplatform being disposed over the exterior and interior wall members,said platform having a central aperture aligned with the axis of thecoil.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 including an annular insert disposedin the aperture of the cover plate and having a plurality of helicalvan-es therein.

9. Apparatus for generating a stream of heated fluid comprising a mobilecarriage having a floor panel and at least one wheel, wall meansdefining a swirl chamber forwardly on the floor panel and having anentrance duct and a circular chamber, a cover plate disposed over thechamber and having an aperture in register with the center of thecircular chamber, a convoluted coil disposed on the cover plate with theconvolutions thereof disposed about a vertical axis and aligned with theaperture whereby air exiting the chamber via the aperture passesupwardly through the coil, a plurality of upright frame members disposedon the floor panel rearwardly of the chamber, container means on theframe and spaced above the floor panel, means on the panel beneath thecontainer means for urging air into the entrance duct, and burner meansfor heating the air passing upwardly through the coil.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the burner comprises ignitermeans, a fuel tank, a fuel pump, the fuel tank having a fuel lineterminating in the vicinity of the aperture in the cover plate.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 including means interconnecting thefluid container with the lower end of the heating coil.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 including a pump in the water linebetween the container and the coil.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 including a cylindrical cover on thecoil and having an opening in the top.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 including a housing of sheetmaterial disposed over the carriage and frame and having a screen ventin the top and aligned with the axis of the coil to permit the exit ofheated air therethrough.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 including a push handle on thehousing.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the coil is provided with aplurality of spaced convolutions, the spacing between the convolutionsbeing on the order of 0.06 inches.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 16 including a plurality of shimsmediate the convolutions of the coil.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim "wherein the coil includes a portionof cylindrical configuration wherein the convolutions are of equaldiameter and a portion of conical configuration wherein the coils are ofdecreasing diameter, the conical portion being disposed over thecylindrical portion.

1F i I I t

1. Apparatus for generating a stream of heated fluid comprising apush-type carriage having a floor, a platform vertically spaced from andoverlying the floor, duct means between the floor and platform defininga swirl chamber for air, said swirl chamber having ahorizontally-extending tangential input path extending between saidfloor and platform and a vertically-extending central exit formed insaid platform, burner means disposed centrally in said swirl chamber forproducing a flame extending vertically upwardly through said exit, asubstantially cylindrical heater coil through which water is caused toPass to generate steam disposed on and supported by said platform, saidcoil having a plurality of spaced convolutions and a vertical axis ofsymmetry which is aligned with said exit so that said flame passesupwardly therethrough, a cylindrical cover having a central flue openingin the top thereof and being disposed about but spaced radially fromsaid coil to contain said flame, said cover being supported by saidplatform so as to be vertically removable to expose the convolutions ofsaid coil, blower means on said floor to create a forced air draft intoand through said swirl chamber and upwardly through said coil, a storageunit carried by said carriage in vertically spaced relation to saidfloor, said storage unit comprising fuel and water storage compartments,and gun means externally of said carriage and connected to said coil toreceive steam therefrom.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein saidplatform is disposed over only a portion of the floor.
 3. Apparatus, asdefined in claim 2 wherein the carriage includes wheels rotatablydisposed thereon for wheeling the apparatus about.
 4. Apparatus asdefined in claim 1 wherein the coil comprises a plurality of axiallydistributed and spaced convolutions, and means for maintaining thespacings between said convolutions.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4wherein the spacing between the convolutions of the coil are uniform andon the order of 0.06 inches.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 whereinthe coil is arranged with a cylindrical lower portion wherein theconvolutions are the same diameter and a conical upper portion whereinthe convolutions decrease uniformly in diameter, the fluid flow in thecoil being from bottom to top.
 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 2wherein the chamber comprises said floor, a peripheral exterior wallmember having a duct opening therein, an interior wall member ofgenerally circular configuration, a duct interconnecting the ductopening and the interior wall member, said platform being disposed overthe exterior and interior wall members, said platform having a centralaperture aligned with the axis of the coil.
 8. Apparatus as defined inclaim 7 including an annular insert disposed in the aperture of thecover plate and having a plurality of helical vanes therein. 9.Apparatus for generating a stream of heated fluid comprising a mobilecarriage having a floor panel and at least one wheel, wall meansdefining a swirl chamber forwardly on the floor panel and having anentrance duct and a circular chamber, a cover plate disposed over thechamber and having an aperture in register with the center of thecircular chamber, a convoluted coil disposed on the cover plate with theconvolutions thereof disposed about a vertical axis and aligned with theaperture whereby air exiting the chamber via the aperture passesupwardly through the coil, a plurality of upright frame members disposedon the floor panel rearwardly of the chamber, container means on theframe and spaced above the floor panel, means on the panel beneath thecontainer means for urging air into the entrance duct, and burner meansfor heating the air passing upwardly through the coil.
 10. Apparatus asdefined in claim 9 wherein the burner comprises igniter means, a fueltank, a fuel pump, the fuel tank having a fuel line terminating in thevicinity of the aperture in the cover plate.
 11. Apparatus as defined inclaim 9 including means interconnecting the fluid container with thelower end of the heating coil.
 12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11including a pump in the water line between the container and the coil.13. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 including a cylindrical cover on thecoil and having an opening in the top.
 14. Apparatus as defined in claim9 including a housing of sheet material disposed over the carriage andframe and having a screen vent in the top and aligned with the axis ofthe coil to permit the exit of heated air therethrough.
 15. Apparatus asdefined in claim 14 including a push handle on the housing. 16.Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the coil is provided with aplurality of spaced convolutions, the spacing between the convolutionsbeing on the order of 0.06 inches.
 17. Apparatus as defined in claim 16including a plurality of shims mediate the convolutions of the coil. 18.Apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein the coil includes a portion ofcylindrical configuration wherein the convolutions are of equal diameterand a portion of conical configuration wherein the coils are ofdecreasing diameter, the conical portion being disposed over thecylindrical portion.